Swan upping

This is one of those quaint, slightly ridiculous, typically English customs that is great fun. The reason behind it is to count the number of The Queens swans on the River Thames by tagging and checking the health of the cygnets. This is David Barber who is the Keeper Of The Queens Swans and he is accompanied by representatives from the Vintners and Dyers Associations as they row up the river.
The extra shows the rowing skiffs and flags as they were waiting in a lock and being 'snapped' by about 100 photographers.